Expected
April 18 to August 24
You may not have heard of her name yet, but the Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz (1930–2017) ranks among the greatest artists of the last century. She is regarded as one of the pioneers of installation art. With her impressive sculptures, she tackled themes that remain relevant today. Her work continues to inspire artists worldwide to this day. This spring, the TextielMuseum, Het Noordbrabants Museum, and the Provinciehuis Noord-Brabant will bring her extraordinary story to life. A unique opportunity to discover the complete works of this groundbreaking artist!
Visit the exhibition
“With her art, Magdalena Abakanowicz caused a seismic shift starting in the 1970s. At three locations in Brabant, we let the ground shake under her impressive monumental art installations. In doing so, we not only pay tribute to her but also shed new light on her pioneering work.”
— Jacqueline Grandjean, director of Het Noordbrabants Museum
Magdalena Abakanowicz by Marek Holzman, copyright estate Marek Holzman, the Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz-Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation
Textile as Art
In the past, textile was often not taken seriously as a material for fine art. It was mainly viewed as craftwork or decorative art, often created by women. This changed thanks to artists like Magdalena Abakanowicz, who played a crucial role in establishing textile as a legitimate artistic medium. Abakanowicz is seen as a pioneer in this field. The TextielMuseum is the perfect place to tell this important story.
Relevant Themes
Abakanowicz’s work emerged after World War II and during Russian oppression in Eastern Europe. Many of the themes in her work, such as the struggle between East and West, are relevant once again. In 1971, she visited the Club of Rome, where she learned about climate change. This inspired her to focus on restoring the balance between humanity and nature. At that time, it took the atomic bomb and a moon landing to realize how fragile our Earth truly is.
Het Noordbrabants Museum presents Abakanowicz’s work in relation to both world history and the present day. Her art is shown alongside modern artists such as Anish Kapoor, Kimsooja, Marlene Dumas, and Kader Attia. Especially for the exhibition, choreographer Nicole Beutler will create a dance performance, and a new film by Kristina Benjocki and Stijn Verhoeff will premiere.
Largest Work in the World
At the Provinciehuis Noord-Brabant in ’s-Hertogenbosch, a spectacular work by Abakanowicz is on display: Bois le Duc (1970-1971). This monumental artwork consists of 19 woven panels, each over 7 meters high and 22 meters wide. It was created specifically for the hall designed by architect Maaskant. Although the space is usually not open to the public, special programs will be offered during the exhibition, such as guided tours, films, and an international symposium. This is a unique chance to experience this impressive work up close!
Magdalena Abakanowicz, Bois le Duc, (1970-1971), Provinciehuis Noord-Brabant © The Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, Warsaw. Foto Rob Lipsius
With Thanks To
The program of exhibitions and activities is generously supported by the Provincie Noord-Brabant, Gemeente ’s-Hertogenbosch, Gemeente Tilburg, VriendenLoterij, Ambassade van de Republiek Polen, The Marta Magdalena Abakanowicz-Kosmowska and Jan Kosmowski Foundation, Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation, Cultuurfonds/Barbas-van der Klauw Fonds, Mondriaan Fonds and Blockbusterfonds.
